The Health Writers records are fragmentary, and although dating as far back as 1969, they are most complete for the period 1973 to 1983. Virtually no information is included about its predecessor, the Women's Health Collective. The best source of information about Health Writers can be found in its monthly Health Newsletter and its Special Reports, which are available in the Wisconsin Historical Society library. In the papers, the most comprehensive evidence of organizational operations can be gained from the “Proposals for Funding” file in the ADMINISTRATIVE series and the “Organization and Subject Activity” files in the ACTIVITY series.
The fragmentary ADMINISTRATIVE RECORDS series is arranged in four groups. The Core Organizational Records include bylaws (1978); minutes (but only of one 1982 meeting of the Board of Directors); two reports; several statements of purpose and history; personnel material; and information on office procedures. Among the Personnel materials are resumes of Lea Zeldin and Bonnie Murphy.
The Financial Records are of four types. The budgets briefly picture the major revenue and expense categories for the years 1973 to 1979 and 1983. The budget increase between 1977 and 1978 reflects Health Writers' most prosperous period and the special publication and activities concerning the Patients' Bill of Rights. Other sources for understanding both financial and operational aspects of Health Writers between 1974 and 1982 are the minutes and reports produced by or prepared for their most consistent source of funding, the Madison Sustaining Fund (MSF). These records are included here because Lea Zeldin of Health Writers also served on the staff of the MSF. Interesting among these materials is a summary letter of Health Writers' special membership meeting in January 1978, which suggested a number of internal conflicts over personnel and organizational structure. Also included is a letter from Barbara Davis, president of Health Writers, to request curtailing Health Writers' participation in the Fund.
Within the ADMINISTRATIVE series are proposals for funding which concisely describe Health Writers' major programs, their budget plans, and supporters. Also here are Patients' Bill of Rights and Responsibilities radio broadcasts submitted to ARBA (1976), Senior Health Advocates for Dane County Board of Supervisors (1978), Neighborhood Volunteers for United Madison Community Foundation (undated), and Response to Hunger Network for both VISTA Volunteers and Campaign for Human Development (1983).
The largest series is the ACTIVITY RECORDS, which is divided into five groups. The General material includes mailing lists and letters from health consumers (1976-1983) expressing concerns about health care, especially patients' rights. Also included is Lea Zeldin's incoming and outgoing correspondence for the period 1976-1985. This correspondence was exchanged mostly with local organizations and state agencies. The latter half of the correspondence is helpful in understanding Health Writers' activities after publication of the newsletter ceased.
The organizational activities files reveal Health Writers' relationships with various local health groups and state agencies. There is information here on the Citizens for Community Health, Madison Community Health Month (1974), and the Consumer Health Care Conference (May 1976), which Health Writers planned and staffed. As a representative of MSF Foundation, Health Writers helped the State Employees Combined Campaign by editing printed materials (1976-1977). Also included are records on health advisory and planning activities which probably relate to Lea Zeldin's membership on the Madison Board of Health (1973-1978) and Health Planning Council (1975-1985).
The Subject Activity files (1972-1985, 1988) consist of thirteen alphabetical subgroups. (Subject files beginning with letters “O” to “Z” are thought to have been removed at the appraisal stage because of physical damage.) The “Advocacy,” “Health Education,” and “Information and Referral” records include theoretical statements of Health Writers' philosophy on these topics. Also in the “Advocacy” file is more specific documentation on the Senior Health Advocates project and a conflict involving CETA workers (1978). In the “Health Education” file is testimony given before the Health Education of the Public/Wisconsin Health Policy Council. Some completed health consumer forms are available in the “I&R” file.
Health Writers' most significant activities are the Patients' Bill of Rights, the Response to Hunger Network, and the health concerns over Video Display Terminals. In 1977 it published the bilingual special report, Patients' Bill of Rights and Responsibilities which was based on the American Hospital Association's patient's bill of rights policy. This was adopted by the Madison Board of Health and endorsed by the City Council in 1976. In addition to these fundamental statements of policy, the collection includes materials on Assembly Bill 418 and a series of radio broadcasts.
The Response to Hunger Network was an outgrowth of Health Writers' Neighborhood Volunteer Training Program, which trained volunteers to assist poor and elderly neighbors with health needs, transportation, and food problems. Unfortunately the RHN file is far from complete. It includes some planning documents, but lacks a description of the implementation and evaluation parts of the activities.
Health Writers sponsored a statewide conference entitled “The Pandra Connection, Dangers and Hazards of Video Display Terminals (VDT)” in April 1983. Co-sponsored by Communication Workers of America (CWA), Local 5530 and Madison Federation of Labor, the conference established a network to gather data and discuss protective measures for the suspected reproductive and visual hazards of VDT. Paul Brodeur, the New Yorker writer and author of The Zapping of America, was primary speaker. Compared to any other activities represented in the collection, the “VDT” file includes very detailed documentation of the budgeting for the project.
Health Writers' advocacy aimed at gaining the right to health care and the patients' entitlement to free health care under the Hill-Burton Act. Though the documentation is small, there is evidence of how Health Writers, in conjunction with Citizens for Community Health, acted as Wisconsin coordinator for the National Hill-Burton Task Force.
The records as received from the donor contained extensive files of newspaper clippings and conference papers which are thought to be the sources used in the publication of the Health Newsletter and Special Reports as well as the public reference library. This material has been extensively weeded to remove clippings on health care topics from Madison newspapers and other commonly available sources.
Among the “Other Activities” papers is information on co-sponsorship of activities with the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom and several other workshops, meetings, and fundraising activities. Also included here are several papers by Lea Zeldin on advocacy training and health care written while she was working for a Master's Degree in Continuing and Vocational Education at University of Wisconsin-Madison.
The PUBLICITY RECORDS, 1974-1983, include special publications, newspaper clippings, press releases, and photographs of the Health Writers' Occupational Health Conference. They cover most of the major activities mentioned above, announcements of membership meetings, and special publications.
